I disagree. Starbucks and similar needs to be automated, at least partially, while maintaining the premium it charges on a per cup basis. That means that it would need to keep the traditional expresso machines and process that people believe they are paying for -- if they just replace those with large blockly traditional coffee machine people will stop going to Starbucks because they are no longer a premium differentiated solution.

You need to keep the premium that Starbucks customers pay for and that is using traditional methods with lots of customization options. Making coffee at Starbucks is sort of a performance, and that is remaining because that is what people are paying for.

You are misunderstanding Starbuck and the premium coffee experience completely.

I think that something like this will succeed at the medium-high end. But "artisan" premium coffee that is hand made at an espresso machine will remain but it will likely get even more expensive.

Remember that we have already automated pretty fully the low end coffee market with Nespresso, Kurig, etc.

I think you are completely wrong, there is a market for this.